The season for Halloween festivities is come to a close, and although this fact has caused a slight dip in my mental health, it also means that Christmas season is approaching. Christmas, a.k.a. the most wonderful time of the year according to Andy Williams.

But what makes it "the most wonderful time of the year"? I offer a personal definition of this phrase below with a list of items I believe best captures the Christmas spirit.

1. Christmas Season means watching "Elf".

Don't we all aspire to be Buddy, with his delightfully comical naiveté about the real world, his application of syrup to everything he eats and his compassion toward others, all in the name of Christmas spirit?

2. Christmas Season means eating a candy cane.

Or twelve.

3. Christmas Season means not only eating candy canes but indulging in peppermint-flavored anything.

Peppermint bark, Starbucks' peppermint mocha and basically any food you can douse in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermints.

4. Christmas Season means decorating the Christmas tree.

And waiting each night for the timer to go off, signifying that the tree is lighting up.

5. Christmas Season means going ice-skating.

No matter how many times you anticipate falling or for how long you have to hold onto the ledge.

6. Christmas Season means spending time with loved ones.

7. Christmas Season means watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, whether you watch it in person or on TV.

Although the name might throw you off, Santa’s appearance at the end of the parade unofficially marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

8. Christmas Season means lavish window displays more beautiful than anything you’ve ever seen.

9. Christmas Season means buying presents for family and friends, but…

10. Christmas Season ALSO means receiving presents.

Come on, you can’t deny how exciting it is to see the perfectly wrapped box under the Christmas tree that you’re sure contains the record player you’ve been eyeing.

11. Christmas Season means snowball fights.

This was a common winter activity back when I lived in Toronto, but I don't think we have very many White Christmases in Georgia.

12. Christmas Season means building a snowman.

Again, I think I will have to travel hundreds of miles north before I can even attempt to build a snowman. But for the time being, we can all admire this snowman chugging some beer.

13. Christmas Season means listening to Michael Bublé's holiday album on repeat.

14. Christmas Season means drinking hot cocoa.

15. Christmas Season means devouring gingerbread cookies.

16. Christmas Season means seeing people's homes transformed into full-on light shows.

17. Christmas Season means seeing the "North Pole" at your local mall.

And of course, you also see the crowds of children and their parents waiting to snap a photo with Santa and one of his elves.

18. Christmas Season means wearing tacky but cute Christmas sweaters.

19. "Christmas Season" means trying to recite the names of Santa's reindeer.